104- N'OHTIl AMi;i;i('A.\ l!ll!I)S, . 



ist, this sjincics i,s cliiolly fuiiiul in tlio wiirmer interior of raliloniia, Santa 

 ('mi/ iK'inj,' tiiu nnly point (ju tlif const wlu'rc Ik; lias met witii it. llo 

 found it in seiittcrcd ]iairs, in ^liiy, tln'ou«,'iiout tlio Const l!anj,'t', even to 

 tlie sinnniits, wlioro tliuro are small marshes full of rushes, in which they 

 liuild. Ho has not been able to detect any dillereiiee between the habits 

 and notes of this bird and the common Ifedwin^f. The fact that specimens 

 with entirely red shoulders seem limited to the middle of the State, or are 

 rare alonjj; the coast, while most of those on the coast closely resemlile the 

 eastern bird. Dr. Coo]»er rej^ards as sugj^estive of its being only a local race, 

 though said tn occur also in ^roxico. 



During the summer this species is said to emit a variety of sweet and 

 li(piid notes, delivered from some tree near its I'avorite marsh. The.se are 

 also sometimes mingled with jingling and creaking sounds. 



])r. Suckley, in his Jleport on the Zoillogy of Washington Territory, ex- 

 pre.s.ses the o])inion, that, .although a specimen of this bird is re]»orted as 

 liaving been taken by Townsend on the Columbia, it is very rarely found so 

 far north, as he never met with it in Washington Territory, ami has never 

 been able to hear of any other specimen having been ftjund there. 



Dr. Kennerly, in his lleport on the birds observed in the survey of the 

 35th parallel, slates that during the march along Bill Williams Fork, and 

 along the Grciat ('olorado and the ]\Ioliave IJivers, this species was Ibund ([uite 

 numerous. They were more aliundant still along the creeks and swampy 

 grounds that were passed as they a])]iroached the settlements of California. 

 Large flocks could there l)e seen whirling around in graceful curves, like dark 

 clouds, chattering joyfully as they moved along, or settling as a black veil on 

 the topmost branches of some tree, indulging loudly in their harsh music. 



In his licport (tf the birds observed in the survey under Lieutenant Wil- 

 liamson, Dr. lleernumn mentions finding this species abundant, and, in the 

 full season, as associated wil'.i Mo/u/Itni.'i pccorix and A. friro/or. Its nest he 

 found built in the willow bushes and tussocks of grass alxive the level of 

 the water, in the marshes. There were but a few pairs togetiier, and in this 

 respect they difler froui the iriat/or, which prefers dry situations near 

 water, and which congregate by thousands while breeiling. The nest was 

 composed of nmd and tine roots, and lined with tine grasses. The eggs, four 

 in number, he describes as pale blue, dashed with spots and lines of black. 



Neither this nor the triw/or was detected liy Dr. Cones in Arizona. 



These lUackbirds were found by Mr. Itidgway abumlant in the marshy 

 regions of Calil'innia, but they were rarely met with east of tlie Sierra Ne- 

 vada. A few individuals were collected in Nevada in the valley of the 

 Truckee. A few pairs were found breeding among the tn/c' sloughs and 

 marshes. The nests found in the Truckee Reservations were built in low 

 bushes in wet mcatlows. 



A nest procured by Dr. Cooper IVoin the summit of the Coast Eange was 

 built of grass and rushes, and lined with finer gra,s,s. The eggs are described 



